Genesis 45 - Divine Jackpot

Just when it seemed it could not get any darker - when surely Jacobs sons would forever be separated from him and he would die of a heartache - light breaks through and God provides for a miraculous delivery. Joseph's brothers were not only about to be delivered from the penalty for stealing, for selling Joseph into bondage and lying, but they were going to be delivered from death and starvation at Joseph's hand. Joseph foreshadows the deliverance that God would one day bring to the world through his son Jesus.

At the beginning of the Chapter, Joseph is so moved by Judah's confession and pleas for mercy that he is brought to tears. Judah was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of his father and his brothers. This was evidence of the changes God had brought about in Judah's thinking. Joseph so touched he wept in front of his brothers. Then he reveals the truth - he is their brother.

Joseph explains that all the suffering his brothers brought to him was all part of Gods plan to position Joseph to be able to deliver a remnant of God's chosen people. The famine in the land was also part of God's divine plan to renew Jacob's dependence and delight in God, but also as a demonstration of God's future deliverance from sin in sending Messiah. For us today, I think it keeps us assured of God's final deliverance after Jesus' millennial reign.

This was more than an incidental event. This was God's divine jackpot where all the things that are deserved (death, destruction, despondency) are overshadowed by God's amazing grace. A bounty of blessing. Jacob would be given the best of the land and would live out his days in the presence of his beloved children.

Joseph directs his brothers to go and get their wives and his father. They didn't need to worry about moving everything because it would all be replaced from the generous stores of Egypt. Joseph sends provisions for the journey both ways.

Then Joseph says something strange, "don't quarrel on the way". It would seem there would be no cause for quarreling, but Joseph knew his brothers well and knew that even lavish grace could not change their character.

There are some lessons we can take from this passage for ourselves.

1. If you are in the midst of trouble and hardship, God may be using this to accomplish his purposes for you. Look to God for wisdom, comfort and strength to see you through your struggle. The day may dawn soon.

2. God's purposes are for his glory and not for ours. God delivered his people as a demonstration of his power not merely to place abundance into the hands of children. The real blessing is in the deliverance and not the bounty. If God sees us through, our faith is increased and we trust him more for the next challenge.

3. God's blessing here is temporal. Our blessing in eternity is forever. No matter how high we live here, the riches are incomparable with God's riches in Heaven. We are sojourners here; this is not our home. So we need to be careful that we don't value abundance here so much that it hinders our relationships. We need not quarrel with our brothers and sisters about the blessings we have received. God is all sufficient to meet our every need and his plans for us are perfect.

4. Jacob was convinced of the truth when he saw the evidences Joseph sent. He went to Egypt not for the abundance, but to be with his son. We have opportunity to fellowship with God through his son Jesus. He has provided the evidences of his love and the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Will we value that time as greater than pursuit of wealth and business? We have our own choice to make.

May God richly bless you as you seek him and as you serve him today.